Shuttle control mechanism for narrow ware looms



Dec. 6, 1949 A. w. GAGE ETAL 2,490,589

SHUTTLE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR NAROW WARE LOOMS Filed April 26, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 1 1949 A. w. GAGE ETAL 2,490,589

' SHUTTLE CONTROL MECHANISM FOR NARROW WARE LOOMS Filed April 26, 1-9472 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 SHUTTLE CONTROL MECHANISM FORNARROW,WARE;'LOOMS;.

Arnold W. Gage, Charles M ;Gage,

and Edwin G.

Gage, G1inton, iM'as s. Application April;26, 1947 ,sS erial No. 744,2293 Claims. (01. it efisj).

The present invention relates to narrow. fabric, or narrow ware,looms;of the type that are adapted to weave anumber of separate. tapesor ribbons in accordance'with a pattern, as when Weaving a large number;of similar labels that are connected together in each tape, with eachlabel having a definite -design. Narrow ware; looms of this characterprovide a large number of shuttles that are arrangedin horizontal rows,orwbanks, for movement back and forth on a batten structure with-respectto a series of warp sheds passing through the batten.

When a narrow ware'loomis operated to weave a design, several horizontal,banks of .shuttles are arranged on thebatten in superposed rela-- tion,with the filling of the shuttlesin the sep arate banks being ofdifferent color, or character,,; and provision is made for moving the;entire batten structureup or down to bring some particular shuttlebankjto the same elevationas-the; series of, warp sheds.- Theshifting ofthe batten structure thereforej'selects which bank of shuttles willbedriven throughthe warp. sheds and the position of the batten structureisautomatically determined by the functioning of; a pattern con trolmechanism of the jacquard type. In pattern controlled narrow ware loomsas heretow fore constructedjt has been customaryto transmit indicationsfrom thepattern chain through; a complicated mechanical arrangement ofshafts and linkages extending .from the jacquard mech-k anism'to one.end of the ;loom where the control: boxwhich determines the position ofthe batten is located. Since narrow ware looms are usually over 20 feetin length, any mechanical arrange merit for transmitting pattern changesfrom the. jacquard is subjected to heavy strains andthe resulting wearofthe connected parts often; causes faulty operation and.even. breakagesor, jams in the shuttle. driving mechanism on the.

batten structure.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved shuttlecontrol mechanism-for.

narrow Ware looms wherein indications of-the pattern are transmittedelectrically to solenoid's- 1 within the control box, the essentialoperating parts of which have'been rearranged so as to" provide for moreaccurate andpositive operation of the associated-mechanism for determine position of the batten structure.

result of the employment of our improved ele'c-' trical shuttle controlmechanism, breakages and shutdowns are reduced'to a minimum, as compared to theoperation of looms equipped withpurely mechanical elementsfor transmitting pat: tern change indications.- I -A-;further object/ofthe invention is to provide a shuttle control mechanismwhichds not onlysimple-in, construction and reliable in op eratiQILasn'oted above,but'which is also capable" of, being'applied to existing looms by an;easily; accomplished removal and replacement of readily j,

accessibleparts in the control boxes of such;existing looms. The aboveand other advantageous features of the invention will hereinafter =moreffully appear from the following description con sidered in connectionwith the; accompanying;v

, parts shown in Fig.3-1, as viewedirom the right.

Fig.3 isamend view partially in-section show-l,

ing the, application; of -our; improved solenoid actuated, mechanism, to1,.on1an enlarged scale.--

'Figui is aview similar to Fig.3 showing the position; of parts when onesolenoidis energized.

"Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryshowing, partially inperspective, of the controlmechanism; of Fig. 3;

withlitsconnectionslto the mechanism for selec tivelyiwdeterminingy theposition of the batten, shown with the loom frame removed.

'F'i .:6 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 5 with, onesolenoidenergizedto change the position-0f,

the batten- =-Referrihg first to Figs. 1 and 2,. a portion 011,thezfrontof. a narrowware loom is shown in,,

which a number of.;rows or banks of shuttles I,

Zand 3*'are arrangedv in superposed relation stress a batten 4 thatextends the full widthot;

me room. The batten 4' provides spaced blocks 5;whose' -races -6'receive the shuttles i, 2, and 3 as any selected bank; of shuttlesismoved back andiiorth through the warp sheds W that passthrough"'spaces..'1 in the batten 4 between b oc s's'.

'Tl'iefshuttles are. adapted to be driven by racks a thrtu npimom 9 inthe blocks 5 in coop ere'lii ziozi v with suitable." driving belts andpulleys, only' partially shown, when any particular shuttle bank is atthe same elevation as the warp sheds W. I 'In the positionofj partsshown in Fig. 1, the lowermost bank of shuttles I; which carries theground'filling is at the level of the warp sheds W,

sewer driving of the shuttles I will cause their the control box of Fig,

1 3 filling to be laid into the warp sheds W as long as the batten 4remains in this position.

As best shown in Fig. 2 the batten 4 is movable vertically on guides Iprovided by the lay II which is pivoted at Ila to swingback and forth inthe usual manner and beat up the weft threads after they are laid in theWarp sheds W by selective operation of the shuttles I, 2, or 3, in theseveral banks. The position of the batten 4 on the lay II with referenceto the level of the warp sheds W determines which row or bank ofshuttles I, 2, or 3 will be driven through the warp sheds, so that adesign will be woven in the narrow fabrics or tapes in accordance withthe differences in color or character of the fillings in the shuttles.The batten 4 is vertically movable by rods I2 connected to suitablemechanism, hereinafter described, for automatically determining thevertical position of the batten in accordance with the operation of apattern mechanism of the jacquard mechanism J which is of usualconstruction and provides a set of cards 0 for determining the patternthat is to be woven into the labels. In addition to controlling thewarps W, the jacquard mechanism J provides extra needles under thecontrol of the cards C that are adapted to actuate hooks within themechanism. These hooks are adapted to be moved upwardly upon receivingan indication from a card needle to cause a change to occur in theselection of the character or color of the filling in shuttles I, 2, or3 for passage through the warp sheds W.

In previous shuttle control mechanisms, the movements of the jacquardhooks have been transmitted through a complicated arrangement of linksand shafts to the control box I3 at the side of the loom. This controlbox has also provided a complicated arrangement of cams and gearsresponsive to movement, as transmitted from the jacquard needles so asto determine which one of the shuttles I, 2, or 3 shall be passedthrough the warps when the sheds are next opened. The object of thepresent invention is to replace the old mechanical arrangement by anelectrical control or an extremely simple and efiective character thatwill perform all of the essential functions of the shuttle control incooperation with the jacquard mechanism J.

In the electrical control, switches S-A and S-B are provided, with themovable contact arms i4 and I5 of the switches being connected to thehooks by pulls PA and PB, respectively. Each switch also provides astationary contact It or H, with the movable switch arms and stationarycontacts I4, I6, and I5, I! connected to solenoids A and B of theshuttle control. As shown, closure of the switch S--A by movement of thepull PA will energize the solenoid A, while closure of the switch S-B bymovement of the pull P--B will energize the solenoid B. The connectionto the jacquard hooks is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

As indicated in Fig. l, the shuttles I which carry the ground fillingwill operate on each opening of the warp sheds so long as the solenoidsA and B are not energized by closure of 4 either switch S-A or 8-3.However, if either solenoid A or B is energized, alone, by closure ofits switch, in response to an indication from a card C, the shuttles 2will be moved through the sheds. Energization of both solenoids A and B,together, in response to a dual card indication serves to bring theshuttles 3 in position for movement through the warp sheds, so that adesign will be woven in each tape in accordance with differences in thefillings, as determined by the pattern.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown an arrangement whereby thesolenoids A and B are adapted to select which of the shuttles I, 2, or 3are to be moved through the warp sheds W. It is to be understood thatthe arrangement of parts shown in Fig. 3 for the solenoid A isduplicated for the solenoid B, with the electrical control mechanismcooperating with existing batten operating parts of the loom that areshown only partially in Fig. 5.

The solenoid A provides a plunger I8 that is pivotally connected to alink I9 which is in turn connected to a hammer 20. The upper end of thehammer is pivoted at 2I to a frame 22 forming part of the control box I3which is attached to one end of the loom and serves to support the otherrelated parts of the control mechanism. The relation of the frame 22with respect to the operating mechanism for the batten 4 is shown inperspective in Fig. 5, and on a reduced scale in Fig. 2.

The hammer 2B is engaged by a spring 23 which tends to hold a lug 24 onthe lower end of the hammer in engagement with one side of a slide 25that is vertically movable in the frame 22. When the hammer 20 is in theposition of Fig. 3 a locking hook 26 pivoted at 21 has its upper end 26aprojecting over the upper end of the slide 25. Therefore, with the hook26 in this position, the slide 25 is not permitted to move upwardlyunder the pull of a motion transmitting mechanism consisting of a seriesof links 28 and associated levers 29, turnable with shafts 30 thatextend parallel to the batten 4, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thismechanism thus serves to connect the slides 25 to the batten controlrods I2 that determine the horizontal position of the several banks ofshuttles I, 2 and 3 with respect to warp sheds W. In the general showingof Fig. 5, both slides 25 are shown as being held down by the ends 26aof the pair of locking hooks 26 that are under the control of thesolenoids A and B.

In this basic position of parts the solenoids A and B are deenergized,so that the ground filling shuttles I will operate in unison through thesheds all the way across the batten 4, back and forth movement beingimparted to the shuttles by any suitable mechanism for moving the racks8. Still referring to Fig. 5, each slide 25 is moved to its lowerposition by pairs of treadles 3I pivoted at 32, with the treadles 31being given up and down motion as indicated by the arrows through anysuitable mechanism operating in timed relation with the drive shaft ofthe loom, see Fig. 2. In its downward movement the end of each treadle3I is adapted to engage a slide hook 33 pivoted at 34 on the slide 25 asshown in Fig. 3. In the lowermost position of the slide 25 the end ofeach hook 33 is forced outwardly by a stop 35 fixed on the frame,although as soon as the slide 25 starts to move upwardly, a

spring 36 will turn the hook 33 about its pivot assorted Aswbestshownrin FigzrB, the. locking; hook. 26

passesthrough a slot Na in: the link 19: whichconnects the hammerZlltothe solenoid plunger: l8." Therefore, when the solenoidA-is energizedbyclosure'of the-switchcontacts It and it, in

response. to an'indication: for a shuttle: change: froma'card C, theparts'will be moved'into the position of Fig. 4-. In this position; thehammer. -has-'been-swung: to the right aboutxits pivot. 2| therebycausing-the link- |9 also to swing the? hook 26 to the right to removeitsend Zea-fromits-previous positionbver the top of the slide. 25.:Therefore; the'slide canmove upwardly before-the next beat'of the battenl so asto. permitthe batten control rods l2 to move down-rwardly-into'the position of Fig. 6, wherein the;

middle-shuttles 2 have been positioned formovementthrough the warp-shedsW. In the-raisedposition of the slide 25, it is to be noted that thehook33 is inside the slide so that the next downward movement of the treadle3! will not pull the slidedown'as long as the solenoid A.

the dotted line position; so that the next down beat of either treadle3i will return the slide 25 to" the position of Fig. 3; where it isagain locked by the end portion-of the hook 2611 until another shuttlechange is indicated.

As previously noted, energization of either. solenoid A or B- will bringthe. middle shuttles 2 into weaving position and this selectiveoperation is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. It is to be noted:- thatthe rods 3?which operate the slides 25 are: connected at their upper ends to across lever 38 pivoted at its middle to the first link 28 of thepreviously described motion transmitting mechanism that is connected tothe batten control rods [2 through the series of levers 29 and shafts3t, and the interposed second link 28. Assuming that the solenoid B isdeenergized, so as to hold its slide 25 down, the upward movement of theother slide 25 under the control of solenoid A, will turn the crosslever 33 about its lefthand end which'is heldifixed, asshown in Fig. 6.This limited movement of th lever 38 permits the batten control rods ii.to move downwardl'y'only far" enough to position the middle bankshuttles 2' for movement through the warp sheds W, as indicated bydotarld dash line.

Obviously, should the solenoid B become energized through closure of theswitch S-B while the switch SA is open, the lever 38 will be swung intothe dotted line position of Fig. 6, wherein the lever 38 turns about thefixed end of the right-hand slide rod 31. Should both solenoids A and Bbe energized together, under the control of a card C, then both slides25 are permitted to move upwardly into the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 5 from which it is obvious that the middle point of thelever 38 can rise higher than as shown in Fig. 6 to per- .mit the battencontrol rods 12 to move downwardly far enough to position the top bankof shuttles 3 for movement in the warp sheds.

As previously pointed out, the treadles 3| which operate in pairs tomove the slides 25 down are driven from the main shaft of the loom, sothat one treadle 31 will move downwardly to engag a hook 33 in advanceof each beat of 33a of the hook from thebatten? 4 into:thefiwarpssheds'? Therefore; assuming; that both: solenoids-A and Barede:--. energized, both slides;- 25 willrremaindown inthe positionofFig..5-by-reasonof the fact that:

-. the locking hooks 26 will'holda-the slidesdown against the:upwardlpullrof the slide rods .31" as first one and thenitheother of thetreadles 31' are raised; Therefore, as long 'as the solenoids A- andBremain deenergizedg; with the. switchesi S-A and; S-Bopen, the; batten 3will 'remain in: the-position of Fig. l with the groundifillingi in thelower bank of shuttleslbeingv woven Am the several tapes? 1 Assuming nowthata filling change is indicated by: a pattern 1 card: C: to: close:the :switch S.-A-andv energize the 'solenoidrA", turning movement of thehook: 26 fromtherposition of. Fig. 3 into-:the; position of Fig. 4willpermit the associated. slide? 25; to moveupwardly into-the positionof Fig. 6 in-.response,to upward pull'on the rod 3.! by the; weight ofthe batten t: When this occurs; the: resulting upward-movemen't-oftherod 3'! acting; through the cross lever 38. and the connections 28;29 and3-0 leading to the batten controlrods: i2, will permit the batten4 to fall into the posi tion of Fig.v 6 to bring the middle bank ofshuttles. 2 to the horizontal level of. the. then open warp"? sheds W.The entirewbank of shuttles 2. will: then be driven through-.thez sheds.to. lay. a' new type of filling that'diff'ers incolor or. character.from the-ground fillings. previously laid" by the: shuttles I. Thislaying: of. the fillin'gby the. shuttles 2 is followed by. beating upofthe fillings as the warp sheds are closed.*

Assuming thatthe pattern card 6 is laid. out: tocause the layingofsuccessive fillings from the shuttles 2, the switch SA will:remain'closed. and the solenoid A will remain energized. Should" thisoccur, it is evident that the slide. hookv 33 will remain in the fulllineposition of Fig.. 4 so that the next downward beat. of theassociated. treadle 31 will-notpullthe slide 25 downwardly. As a result,the batten 4-wwill remain in the posi-- tion of Fig. 6, so that-themiddle-bank of shuttles 2-will again lay-the same fillingin the openwarpsheds W.

.If, however; the: pattern card C calls for the: laying of a groundfilling from shuttles lto succeed the laying of. fillings from shuttles2, the re'- sulting deenergization of solenoid A or B will cause thespring 23 to move the hammer 20 from the position of Fig; 4 back to theposition of Fig. 3. Assuming that the slide: 25 is then raised as" shownin Fig. 4, the lug 24 at the end of the harmmer 20 will. move theslidehook-33 into the dotted line position of Fig. 4 wherein the end 3311 ofthe hook will be engaged by the treadle 3| on its next downward beat tocarry the slide 25 downwardly to the position of Fig. 3. As the slide 25reaches its lowermost position, the locking hook 26 resumes its formerposition with its end portion 26a in position over the top of the slide25 to prevent upward movement of the slide when either treadle 3| movesupwardly.

When the pattern card C calls for a filling of the type in the shuttles3, both switches S--A and 8-13 are closed simultaneously to energizeboth solenoids A and B. When this occurs, the operations previouslydescribed with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 take place with respect toboth hammers 20 so that withdrawal of both locking hooks 26 permits bothslides 25 to move upwardly. Simultaneous upward movement of both sliderods 31 then causes the cross lever 38 to assume the dotted lineposition of Fig. 5 wherein 7 the pivot 38a of the cross lever occupies aposition above the position of the pivot in Fig. 6 wherein only oneslide is up. The increased amplitude of movement of the connections 28,29 and 30 leading to the batten rods l2 permits the batten 4 to movedownward a distance suflicient to bring the top bank of shuttles 3 intothe horizontal plane of the open warp sheds W. The filling from theshuttles 3 will then be laid into the fabric of the tapes for one ormore beats of the batten, in accordance with the operation of theswitches S-A and S--B to simultaneously energize or deenergize thesolenoids A and 13. Upon deenergization of both solenoids A and B,movement of the hooks 33 into the dotted line position of Fig. 4 willcause both slides 25 to be pulled downwardly by the treadles 3i to movethe batten 4 upwardly into the position of Fig. 5, wherein the bank ofshuttles l carrying the ground filling will be laid into the warp shedsfor one or more beats until the next filling change is indicated by thecard C of the jacquard mechanism J.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present invention thereis provided an improved shuttle control mechanism for looms of thenarrow ware type, wherein pattern indications for filling changes aretransmitted electrically to the control box, so as to cause accurate andpositive actuation of the associated mechanism for determining theposition of the batten. As a result of the employment of our improvedshuttle control mechanism, breakages and shutdowns are reduced to aminimum, and as previously pointed out, the control mechanism of ourinvention is capable of being applied to existing looms by an easilyaccomplished removal of existing parts of a control box and theirreplacement by the new parts.

We claim:

1. A shuttle control mechanism for narrow ware looms comprising incombination, a series of warp sheds, a batten structure carrying banksof shuttles in superposed relation, said batten structure being movable,as a unit, to position any one of said shuttle banks at the elevation ofthe warp sheds, a control mechanism at one side of the loom comprising avertically movable slide connected to the batten structure so that theweight of same tends to move the slide upwardly, accompanied by downwardmovement of the batten, a latch for holding down said slide and asolenoid for operating said latch to permit upward movement of saidslide upon energization of said solenoid.

2. A shuttle control mechanism for narrow ware looms comprising incombination. a series of warp sheds, a batten structure carrying banksof shuttles in superposed relation, said batten structure being movable,as a unit, to position any one of said shuttle banks at the elevation ofthe warp sheds, a control mechanism at one side -,of the loom comprisinga vertically movable slide connected to the batten structure so that theweight of same tends to move the slide upwardly, accompanied by downwardmovement of the batten, a latch for holding down said slide, a solenoidfor operating said latch, a pattern control mechanism for indicating achange in the fillings carried by said shuttles, and electricalconnections extending between said solenoid and said pattern control forenergizing said solenoid in response to a filling change indication, tooperate said latch and permit upward movement of said slide to positiona different bank of shuttles at the elevation of the warp sheds, as thebatten structure moves downwardly.

3. A shuttle control mechanism for narrow ware looms comprising incombination, a series of warp sheds, a batten structure carrying banksof shuttles in superposed relation, said batten structure being movable,as a unit, to position any one of said shuttle banks at the elevation ofthe warp sheds, a control mechanism at one side of the loom comprising avertically movable slide connected to the batten structure so that theweight of same tends to move the slide upwardly, accompanied by downwardmovement of the batten, a

latch for holding down said slide, a treadle for moving down the slidebetween beats of the batten structure into a position in which saidslide is held by the latch and a solenoid for operating said latch topermit upward movement of said slide upon energization of said solenoid,accom panied by downward movement of the batten to position a selectedbank of shuttles at the elevation of the warp sheds.

ARNOLD W. GAGE.

CHARLES M. GAGE.

EDWIN G. GAGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 786,237 Schaum Mar. 28, 19052,106,504 Lindquist Jan. 25, 1938 2,132,758 Preston Oct. 11, 1938

